What’s the biggest challenge facing churches today? Postmodernism? Government intrusion? Bad theology? For some local churches around the world, the threats aren’t that grandiose.
| Church | Trinity Episcopal Church by the Sea (open-air)Kihei, Maui | St. Peter’s ChurchSouth Croydon, Surrey, U.K. | Kialla West Uniting Church Rural Shepparton,Victoria, Australia | New Life Church and othersDartmouth, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Challenge | As many as 200 wild chickens | Local drunks asking for quieter bells | Thieves who stole church’s only outhouse | A pro-marijuana rally concurrent with a gathering of churches at the same city park |
| Quote | Pastor Morley Frech:“I don’t know if they have their own worship services at night or what it is, but they make quite a mess.” | Verger Geoffrey Hall:“I said if they didn’t like the sound of bells, they could go somewhere else.” | Pastor Ossie Kadel:“There could be a real stink over this . …One of the gifts of the Spirit is self-control—otherwise there’s a few trees out the back.“ | Pastor George Campbell:“As long as the wind is blowing … away from us, it will be all right. [Our concession stand] could make a fortune once they get the munchies.” |
Sources: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sunday Mirror, Herald Sun, The Daily News
Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere
Articles referenced above include:
Congregating chickens are devout about Maui church—Honolulu Star (June 23, 2002)
We’ll have small bells—Sunday Mirror
Pot smokers to share venue with Christians—Daily News (June 23, 2002)
